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As the demand for iPhone X has reduced, it’s hurting the Samsung’s OLED production business.As Samsung produced OLED display is being used on iPhone X
Due to which Samsung is left with a surplus of OLED displays, and as they are looking for new customers to use the displays. They are also cutting their production to 20-million units, which previously had a target of 45-million tAs the demand for iPhone X has reduced, it’s hurting the Samsung OLED production business.As Samsung produced OLED display is being used on iPhone X. 50-million display units for iPhone X, reports Nikkei.
This cutback is only for the January-March quarter, we could see more cut-offs in production for April-June.
The company is mainly looking for Chinese and other customers to make up the difference in the production.
Samsung invested $12.6 billion this year to boost its OLED production in expectations of an iPhone X craze which never happened. Early predictions for 2018 profits were to beat the 6-year high of Q2 last year, but now it’s looking like Samsung’s display business may be in for a huge drop as iPhone X also “slumps”


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By JOHN REID BLACKWELL Richmond Times-Dispatch Sep 8, 2017
Jack Kleinhenz, the National Retail Federation’s chief economist, spoke Friday morning at an economic outlook breakfast hosted by the local Retail Merchants group.
GREGORY J. GILLIGAN/TIMES-DISPATCH
Predictions of the demise of bricks-and-mortar retail because of online shopping are premature, an economist told Richmond-area merchants Friday as part of a mostly optimistic economic outlook report.
“Ninety percent of spending by consumers is still brick-and-mortar,” said Jack Kleinhenz, the National Retail Federation’s chief economist, speaking at an economic outlook breakfast hosted by the local Retail Merchants group.
“E-commerce is changing our lives, there is no doubt about it. It is going to gain,” he said. “I think that retailers who can adjust and incorporate e-commerce into various channels are going to be successful.”
Despite some high-profile retail store closings nationwide that have grabbed attention this year and raised questions about the impact of online shopping, retail store openings still have outpaced closings, Kleinhenz said.
He cited a report by IHL Group, touted on the National Retail Federation’s website, indicating there will be a net increase in retail store openings of more than 4,000 in 2017. In June alone, he said, there were 620,000 job openings in the retail industry.
“I am trying to suggest to you that the retail industry is a lot more healthy than it is made out to be,” he said.
Kleinhenz gave a mostly optimistic outlook for the economy, pointing to positive gross domestic product growth, falling unemployment rates and solid job gains as good signs for retail sales.
He declined to give a prediction for this year’s holiday retail sales, saying more data need to be collected before a forecast is done.
An informal, text-message poll about holiday sales expectations was conducted among the roughly 160 attendees at the event held at the Westin Richmond hotel. Of those who responded, 68 percent said they think sales will be up.
“I think the economy has been doing OK — it is a solid outlook,” Kleinhenz said. “We are getting very close to full employment, so we won’t see a lot of job growth.”
Potential negatives include uncertainty about federal government policies affecting business, and lackluster wage growth since the recession ended. “Wages have not moved up as fast as what we would have thought during an expansion,” he said.
As the chief economist for the largest retail trade organization in the world, Jack Kleinhenz’s days revolve around big data and economic forecasting models. With over 35 years of experience, Kleinhenz is well-versed in examining data patterns and trying to provide some perspective. “I’m a storyteller,” he says, and forecasting is “like a jigsaw puzzle.” Raw data is put into models and it’s Kleinhenz’s job to provide the narrative — a combination of art and science.
On this week’s episode of Retail Gets Real, Kleinhenz sits down in the podcast studio to explain how and why we forecast the economic future and what he thinks is on the horizon.
While economists use different models, they all use the same variables, so there are established core patterns. To measure income levels, for example, the Bureau of Economic Analysis collects data on a month-to-month basis, taking into account such factors as personal income, after-tax income and consumption levels. “These are estimates,” Kleinhenz clarifies. “They’re not perfect numbers.”
To get a more accurate picture, part of Kleinhenz’s job is to continually converse with retailers. “It’s kind of a moving picture we’re trying to figure out,” he says. Technological innovations have greatly changed the task of forecasting. The concept of big data is transformative; when information comes in real time instead of through surveys, it greatly increases the accuracy of predictions.
“The market has been changing and consumers have changed their behavior.”
“What’s going on in the financial markets and these stores does not necessarily mean that consumers have gone away and stopped shopping,” Kleinhenz says about the shifts taking place in the retail industry today. “The market has been changing and consumers have changed their behavior.”
Kleinhenz is optimistic about the future, saying the changes have more to do with demographics: The dense population in the U.S. Midwest 20-30 years ago, as one example, has moved to more urban areas in the Southeast and Southwest, and the shopping malls that catered to their needs do not attract as much demand anymore.
Another reason is that consumers don’t spend the way they used to. Younger consumers have drastically different buying habits, make life decisions later and seek more experiences — opposed to products — than older generations. “People still want to shop,” Kleinhenz says, “It’s recreational. It’s social.”
Listen to this week’s episode to learn why the perception of retail’s transformation is far from the reality, and catch up on some of our most popular past episodes, like Get ready for Gen Z and the future of the retail store.
Susan Reda is one of NRF’s co-hosts on Retail Gets Real. Meet all the co-hosts and learn more about the show.
With a strong rebound in job growth last month, the labor market is back on solid ground. But workers are still struggling to get the substantial wage gains they’ve been craving since the end of the recession, economists said.
Here are the highlights:
The economy added 222,000 net new jobs, the Labor Department said — the best performance since February and well above analyst expectations.
The unemployment rate ticked up to 4.4% from May’s 16-year low, but because more people joined the labor force.
May’s job growth was revised up to 152,000 and April also was revised up, as part of a gain of 47,000 more total jobs for those two months than initially estimated.
Wages continued their steady but slow recent growth, increasing 4 cents to $26.25.
“Hiring is back to where it has been throughout much of the 8-year-old economic expansion,” said Mark Hamrick, senior economic analyst at financial information website Bankrate.com.
“Growth is modest, not spectacular, which is to be expected for a mature expansion.”
Job growth returns to 2016 pace
With June’s strong growth and the statistical revisions, monthly job gains have averaged 180,000 this year, close to last year’s level of 187,000.
On Monday, President Trump criticized the media for ignoring the “great jobs numbers” since he took office. The White House offered a muted response Friday, with Press Secretary Sean Spicer touting the job gains on Twitter as “great news” for U.S. workers.
Economists said the pace of job growth this year has not been great, but has been solid. And the bounce back in June allays any fears of a significant slowdown.
“This was a good jobs report. It suggests there’s still a fair amount of vitality in the U.S. labor market,” said Nariman Behravesh, chief economist at IHS Markit, a business research and analysis firm.
But the report probably overstated the strength of the market somewhat because it was boosted by a gain of 35,000 net new jobs in state and local government after the sector shed 8,000 positions in May, he said.
The June gains likely represent a temporary jump as school districts made new hires for the fall, Behravesh said. He expected job growth in coming months to be in the range of 150,000 to 180,000.
Retail gains jobs for first time since January
June’s job growth was boosted by large increases in hiring in the healthcare and social-assistance sector, as well as by local governments.
But the most notable move was by retailers. The sector added 8,100 net new jobs in June after shedding 7,200 the previous month.
From February through May, retail payrolls declined by 79,400 jobs as the sector struggled with the growing shift to online shopping.
“The gain in June shows that the industry is still very much meeting the demands of consumers and households,” said Jack Kleinhenz, chief economist for the National Retail Federation.
He cautioned that “one month does not make a trend,” a point echoed by other economists.
“We won’t see sustained employment growth in the retail sector,” said Cathy Barrera, chief economic advisor at ZipRecruiter, the Santa Monica job-hunting site.
“Between the competition with online options for consumers and for new technologies that are replacing workers in stores — self checkout is one example of that — I don’t think those jobs are going to be there in the long run,” she said.
A higher jobless rate is actually good
The unemployment rate rose 0.1 percentage point last month after hitting its lowest level since 2001 in May. But the increase, to 4.4%, was for a good reason — 361,000 people joined the labor force a month after it contracted.
That nudged up the percentage of working-age Americans either working or actively looking for a job to 62.8%. That labor force participation rate still is near a four-decade low, and economists said the increasing retirement of baby boomers makes it difficult to boost the level significantly.
The participation rates for men and women ages 25 to 54 have almost gotten back to their pre-recession levels, Barrera said. But for Americans ages 16 to 24, the recovery has been slower.
“It makes sense that this is the last group to recover,” she said. “There just weren’t a lot of jobs available for young people high school-age or college-age during the recession.”
Some of them have opted to stay in school longer to boost their job qualifications, Barrera said. Getting those Americans back in the workforce will help tighten the labor market and lead to increased wages.
Wage growth is still struggling
Average hourly earnings increased 4 cents last month to $26.25, a slight improvement over May’s gains.
For the 12 months ended June 30, wages have increased 2.5%. That’s a slight increase over the 12-month period ended May 31 and above the low rate of inflation. But it’s still short of the stronger growth economists have been hoping for as the labor market tightens.
“If wages accelerate, that will encourage more people who might have given up looking for work to start looking again,” said Jed Kolko, chief economist with employment website Indeed.com. “That’s why wages are an important and the most troubling piece of the puzzle right now.”
With unemployment low, employers should be forced to increase wages to lure new workers and keep existing ones.
But some of the biggest job gains in June were in lower-wage sectors, like healthcare and temporary workers, which kept wage growth down, Kolko said
“It’s unclear how much the slower wage growth is due to long-term factors, like productivity slowdown and demographic shifts, and how much of it could be reversed by a tighter labor market and employers bidding up wages,” he said.
Federal Reserve monetary policymakers have been expecting faster wage growth as the unemployment rate falls.
Still, the job-creation figures for June should provide relief to central bank officials, who have been increasing a key short-term interest rate in large part because of the strength of the labor market.
In June, the Fed nudged the rate up for the third time in six months. Even though the pace of job growth has moderated this year, Fed Chairwoman Janet L. Yellen said the labor market “continues to strengthen.”
If job growth remains solid, the Fed is expected to raise the rate again before the end of the year.
WASHINGTON – Retail sales in March increased 0.3 percent seasonally adjusted over February and 3.5 percent unadjusted year-over-year, according to calculations released today by the National Retail Federation. The numbers exclude automobiles, gasoline stations and restaurants.
“Various factors were at play in the first quarter, but we are again seeing a pattern similar to previous years — consumer spending was weak but is expected to pick up as we move through the year,” NRF Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz said.
“A lack of pricing power continues to plague the retail industry,” Kleinhenz said, noting that Consumer Price Index numbers released today showed prices reversing course in March. “There is no doubt that weak pricing power led to the bumpy period for retailers in the first part of this year.”
On a three-month moving average, retail sales have grown 2.8 percent year-over-year. When looking at business lines, performance in March was again uneven as clothing and accessories and general merchandise saw slight gains while there were declines in building materials and supplies and sporting goods, likely due to winter weather. Nonetheless, the sectors with declines showed increases year-over-year.
A few specifics include:
Online and other non-store sales increased 0.6 percent over February and increased 11.4 percent unadjusted year-over-year.
Sales at clothing and accessories stores increased 1 percent seasonally adjusted from February but decreased 2.5 percent unadjusted year-over-year.
Sales at general merchandise stores increased 0.3 percent seasonally adjusted over February and remained even year-over-year.
Electronics and appliances stores’ sales increased 2.6 percent seasonally adjusted over February but decreased 0.4 percent unadjusted year-over-year.
Furniture and home furnishings stores’ sales decreased 0.3 percent from February but increased 3.3 percent unadjusted year-over-year.
Sales at building materials and supplies stores decreased 1.5 percent seasonally adjusted from February but increased 6.3 percent unadjusted year-over-year.
Sporting goods stores’ sales decreased 0.8 percent seasonally adjusted from February and decreased 4.7 percent unadjusted year-over-year.
Sales at health and personal care stores increased 0.1 percent seasonally adjusted over February and increased 5.3 percent unadjusted year-over-year.
NRF is the world’s largest retail trade association, representing discount and department stores, home goods and specialty stores, Main Street merchants, grocers, wholesalers, chain restaurants and Internet retailers from the United States and more than 45 countries. Retail is the nation’s largest private sector employer, supporting one in four U.S. jobs – 42 million working Americans. Contributing $2.6 trillion to annual GDP, retail is a daily barometer for the nation’s economy.
After hitting a low point during the recession in December 2009, the retail sector has reliably been churning out more jobs. Though the Labor Department’s monthly employment summary provides only a snapshot of the labor market, this is the second month in a row that retail payrolls have registered substantial losses — a possible sign that larger structural changes are in the works.
“E-commerce and technology have absolutely changed the rules of the game and given massive amounts of power to the consumer,” said Simeon Siegel, a retail analyst at Nomura. “There is a self-help mentality now. People walk around with their phones in their hand to tell them the best model and the best price. You don’t need as many people walking around trying to convince you to buy a sweater.”
The vitality of the retail sector has been muscled out of the spotlight lately by a focus on better-paying manufacturing jobs, which President Trump sees as crucial to the revival of the middle class, particularly in the Midwest and the South. But retail outlets still employ millions of Americans and serve as an entry point into the labor force, especially for those with less education and fewer skills.
Remember that while General Motors was once the single largest employer, today Walmart is.
Workers in the 1970s at a General Motors plant in Detroit. The automaker was once the single largest private employer in the United States.
DAN DMITRUCK / UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL
Yet even Walmart is having to contend with a sea change in the way people shop. The company, for instance, has been closing smaller stores in rural areas, according to Barbara Denham, a senior economist at Reis, a real estate data and analytics firm.
Jack Kleinhenz, the chief economist at the National Retail Federation, does not discount the magnitude of the transformation that is occurring in retail, but cautioned that the monthly job figures are also highly subject to temporary vagaries. “One of the challenges we have at this time of the year is the quirkiness of seasonal forces,” he said.
An unexpectedly warm February and snowy March and the late arrival of Easter could have elbowed the numbers in an uncharacteristic way.
The retail employment number, he said, does not necessarily “translate into backsliding of retail sales.”
Diane Swonk, the chief executive of DS Economics in Chicago, agreed. The falloff in hiring “is not a reflection of a consumer than can’t spend, but rather of how they spend,” she said. “Retail is one of the largest employers in the country, and it’s going to go through a pretty massive secular restructuring. We shop differently now, and no one has the right model.”
Most shopping is still done in person rather than online, but shopping patterns are shifting. Ms. Swonk mentioned research that shows consumers like to buy online but return things to bricks-and-mortar stores.
“Clearly, it’s just not one or the other, not just bricks or clicks,” she said. But the marketplace is rapidly changing and retailers “are not sure what the endgame is.”
E-commerce may cause a drop in retail jobs, but a rise in warehouse, distribution and transportation jobs.
At the same time, consumers have not only been changing how they shop, but what they buy. Ms. Denham noted that while the entire retail sector ended up down nearly 30,000 jobs, the restaurant industry showed a gain of 20,000 in March on top of steady previous growth.
“There’s been a shift in consumer spending from things to experiences,” she said, “that’s why restaurants are doing so well.”
February retail sales grew 0.2 percent seasonally adjusted over January and 0.8 percent unadjusted year-over-year, according to calculations released today by the National Retail Federation. The numbers exclude automobiles, gasoline stations and restaurants.
“Sales growth held up well, given warmer than normal weather and tax refund delays,” NRF Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz said.
“While consumers benefit by purchasing more for less, the top-line retail numbers reflect a lack of pricing power and, in many cases, hide underlying consumer demand.”
“While consumer spending in the first quarter has been erratic and most often weak, it registers positive improvement as the year continues,” Kleinhenz said.
On a three-month moving average year-over-year, retail sales have grown 2.8 percent. When looking at business lines, performance in February was very mixed as electronics and appliance stores saw declines while building materials and garden supplies saw solid growth.
A few specifics from the report include:
Online and other non-store sales increased 1.2 percent over the previous month and increased 8.2 percent unadjusted year-over-year.
Sales at clothing and accessories stores decreased 0.5 percent seasonally adjusted from the previous month and decreased 1.1 percent unadjusted year-over-year.
Sales at general merchandise stores decreased 0.2 percent seasonally adjusted over the previous month and decreased 1.4 percent year-over-year.
Electronics and appliances stores’ sales decreased 2.8 percent seasonally adjusted over the previous month and decreased 9.8 percent unadjusted year-over-year.
Furniture and home furnishings stores’ sales increased 0.7 percent over the previous month and increased 1.4 percent unadjusted year-over-year.
Sales at building materials and supplies stores increased 1.8 percent seasonally adjusted over the previous month and increased 3.7 percent unadjusted year-over-year.
Sporting goods stores’ sales decreased 0.4 percent seasonally adjusted over the previous month and decreased 6.7 percent unadjusted year-over-year.
Sales at health and personal care stores increased 0.7 percent seasonally adjusted over the previous month and increased 2.7 percent unadjusted year-over-year.
Retail industry employment decreased by 31,300 jobs in February from January, offsetting gains made the previous month, the National Retail Federation said today. The retail numbers exclude automobile dealers, gasoline stations and restaurants. Despite the correction in retail, the overall economy gained 235,000 jobs in February, the Labor Department said.
“Mild weather contributed to retailers scaling back employment in February, reversing the gains the industry made in January,” NRF Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz said. “However, the surge in consumer and business optimism may have propelled the economy-wide increase in jobs last month and supports our prediction for stronger consumer spending and retail sales for 2017.”
Average hourly earnings were up 2.8 percent year-over-year, compared with 2.5 percent in January.
The Labor Department said February unemployment fell to 4.7 percent, down from 4.8 percent in January.
January retail sales grew a solid 3.8 percent unadjusted year-over-year and 0.4 percent seasonally adjusted from an already-strong December, according to calculations released today by the National Retail Federation. The numbers exclude automobiles, gasoline stations and restaurants.
“The healthy monthly gain was driven by January’s strong payroll gains, retail employment gains and business sentiment.”
NRF Chief Economist
“The retail industry started the year on a high note, continuing the momentum from the 2016 holiday season. The healthy monthly gain was driven by January’s strong payroll gains, retail employment gains and business sentiment,” NRF Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz said.
“We haven’t seen strong January growth in several years, which indicates that consumers are increasing their spending and remain the leading driver of the economy,” Kleinhenz said.
There were broad-based monthly increases across the majority of sectors, with the exception of non-store, which was flat in January.
A few specifics from the report include:
Online and other non-store sales were flat over the previous month and increased 14.5 percent unadjusted year-over-year.
Sales at clothing and accessories stores increased 1 percent seasonally adjusted from the previous month and increased 0.4 percent unadjusted year-over-year.
Sales at general merchandise stores increased 0.9 percent seasonally adjusted over the previous month and decreased 1.4 percent year-over-year.
Electronics and appliances stores’ sales increased 1.6 percent seasonally adjusted over the previous month and decreased 1.7 percent unadjusted year-over-year.
Furniture and home furnishings stores’ sales were flat over the previous month and decreased 0.3 percent unadjusted year-over-year.
Sales at building materials and supplies stores increased 0.3 percent seasonally adjusted over the previous month and increased 6.6 percent unadjusted year-over-year.
Sporting goods stores’ sales increased 1.8 percent seasonally adjusted over the previous month and decreased 3.7 percent unadjusted year-over-year.
Sales at health and personal care stores increased 0.7 percent seasonally adjusted over the previous month and increased 9.4 percent unadjusted year-over-year.
National Retail Federation Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz discusses consumer confidence, retail sales during the holidays and inflation. He speaks with Vonnie Quinn and Oliver Renick on “Bloomberg Markets.” (Source: Bloomberg)
November retail sales grew a solid 5 percent year over year and 0.1 percent from an already-strong October as consumers found the deals they were hoping for both online and in stores and showed their purchasing power during the first half of the holiday season, according to calculations released today by the National Retail Federation. Online and other non-store sales grew 15.3 percent year over year, reflecting the growth of online shopping. The numbers exclude automobiles, gasoline stations and restaurants.
“Consumers were able to take advantage of low prices throughout the first half of the holiday season, checking out with full baskets but paying less even though purchasing was up,” NRF Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz said. “The combination of job and wage gains led to solid holiday spending by American households.”
“Consumers have the wherewithal to spend but households remain measured and rational, which is no surprise given their history since the recovery began in 2009,” Kleinhenz said.
There were broad-based monthly increases across the majority of sectors with the exception of sporting goods.

domain: news


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Mar 16, 2015 A closer look at one of the indicators of inflation.
Feb 26, 2015 With employment and salaries improving, policymakers are focusing on inflation
Feb 25, 2015 Falling prices can be great for the economy ... until they turn into deflation.
Dec 12, 2014 It's not an exact science, but 2 percent is the sweet spot for inflation.
Dec 5, 2014 For brands like Chanel, high prices are about more than adjusting for inflation.
Dec 5, 2014 A look at art as a smart financial investment.
Dec 5, 2014 The average monthly cellphone bill has dropped from an inflation-adjusted $151 in 1989 to $47 today.
Oct 31, 2014 A moderate rate of inflation is evidence of a growing economy


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OUKITEL U7 Pro Smartphone Could be Your Projectable e-Reading Device
Details are scarce on the phone at this time, but GizChina says that the projector will be capable of projecting in 1280 x 720 resolution on any flat surface with a brightness of 50 Lumens.
The phone will likely run Android, which means you should be able to use this device to project a streaming video, or perhaps use the Kindle app to bring a story to the big screen. However, we will have to wait and see whether the projector is good for these functions when it is officially announced and users can test it for themselves.
Oukitel isn’t the first smartphone maker to add a mobile projector to a smartphone (Samsung beat them to it by over a year). Curiously enough, the several models I found were all launched in China and not the west. Is that a sign of market interest, a search fail, or what?


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Latest Sonata Stories
Rest Easy During Sleep Awareness Week With Discount Cards on Top Sleep Aids From Medicationdiscountcard.com Houston, TX (PRWEB) March 03, 2015 The first
LONDON, February 19, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Sonata Software, an IT solutions and services company today announced that it will be present at the Travel Technology Show, being
Classical music is often described as metaphorically coming from the heart. But with Beethoven, that literally may have been the case.
Vehicle Praised for Built-In Safety Features and Family Friendliness LOS ANGELES, Nov.
On November 6, 2013, Sonata Venture Solutions, LLC, a strategic, results-centric marketing, branding and public relations firm, was honored for its business achievements at this year’s annual
-- Hyundai Motor's brand value exceeds $10 billion for the first time, according to Interbrand's Best Global Brands 2014 -- Hyundai Motor is the world's
REDMOND, Washington and BANGALORE, India, August 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Congresswoman Suzan DelBene visited the Sonata Software Development Facility in Redmond, Washington
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., July 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The all-new 2015 Sonata is rated
Hesser Hyundai offers new Sonata online, at dealership for Madison drivers JANESVILLE, Wis., May 30, 2014 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- Families throughout Madison, Wis.
Consumers will instantly receive $500 toward their vehicle down payment when planning to save for a 2015 Hyundai Sonata FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., May 29, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --
- A woman chauffeur.
- A woman who operates an automobile.


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UR launches virtual cobot expo and conference
The emergence of virtual trade shows, exhibitions and conferences means that we can experience them without travelling, and if they are overseas, then we don’t have the cost, travel time and jet lag: just so long as we don’t mind staying up very late or getting up very early.
One such event announced recently is Universal Robots’ Collaborative Robot Expo and Conference, which the company says will be “a rich experience with an extensive range of product news and demonstrations, featuring more than 30 different booths, insightful keynotes, interactive QAs and live chats with automation experts”.
UR said the COVID-19 pandemic has made it clear that resilient businesses are those that can react quickly and decisively to protect workers while keeping business running, adapting processes and product lines, “with many manufacturers now increasingly using collaborative robots to make those changes efficiently and cost-effectively”.
“The crisis has accelerated the need for flexible automation,” said Joe Campbell, senior manager of applications development with Universal Robots. “We’re seeing an uptick in interest for collaborative robots due to social distancing requirements, reshoring to avoid long supply chains and the need for rapid production line changeovers. The Cobot Expo is a timely opportunity to showcase and discuss how cobots can play a pivotal role in helping manufacturers successfully navigate the pandemic.”
The Cobot Expo is free to attend and is open for anyone with an interest in collaborative robotics, 28–30 July, 9 am to 4 pm EDT (US). For those of us in Australia that would be 11 pm to 6 am AEST.
Attendees are invited to visit booths that feature new insights and resources on the most common cobot applications such as machine tending, packaging and palletising, product inspection, assembly, welding, dispensing and finishing. Joining this line-up is ActiNav, said to be the world’s first autonomous bin picking kit for machine tending launched by Universal Robots this year. Each application booth will be staffed with automation experts ready to engage in 1:1 conversation with attendees.
For expo visitors wondering how to get started with collaborative robots, numerous keynotes with live Q&As will offer insights on critical topics such as how to identify good projects, choosing the right cobot model and peripherals, conducting the risk assessment, whether to take a DIY approach or go with an integrator, and much more. The agenda also has presentations on cobot maintenance and programming and the many new ways cobots are quickly being deployed to address the COVID-19 crisis, including area disinfection, the manufacturing of test kits, face shields and ventilators, and in the handling of COVID-19 tests, protecting hospital staff from exposure.
The Cobot Expo is also an opportunity to meet the many UR+ partners presenting a comprehensive ecosystem of new products certified to integrate seamlessly with the UR cobots. The rapidly expanding UR+ platform now includes over 250 UR+ components and application kits with more than 400 approved commercial developer companies in the UR+ program.
The UR+ partner booths include ATI Industrial Automation, Energid, Flexibowl, Flexxbotics, Hexagon, Mircopsi/Nvidia, New Scale Robotics, OnRobot, Piab, Robotiq, Schmalz, Schunk, SMC, Vectis, Vention, VersaBuilt, Visumatic, Wiretank and Zimmer.
The Cobot Expo is now open for registration at urrobots.com/ExpoEntry.
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Wolff Mining has expanded its range of semi-autonomous equipment, with plans to implement fully...


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physics engine news search results
Developer news items we found relating to physics engine
Accelerate development environments by 10x with AI
Friday, August 25, 2023 by Richard Harris
We recently caught up with Rod Cope from Perforce and chatted about the 10x environment mindset for AI and how new AI tools like generative AI are increasing the efficiency and speed of developers and improving visual effects for animation pros. Even more, he explains how Perforce came up with the 10x concept, the opportunities that exist for incorpo...
Qt Releases Version 5.7 of Its C++ UI Development Framework Adding 3D Module
Friday, June 17, 2016 by Richard Harris
The Qt Company announces the release of Qt 5.7, the latest version of its cross-platform application and user interface (UI) development framework. Qt 5.7 offers new UI creation opportunities including a new Qt 3D module, as well as new ways to create modern touch-based UIs with Qt Quick Controls 2 and Qt Quick Designer. Qt 5.7 follows the evolution of modern C++, lever...
Famo.us for App Development: Going Beyond the Funding Hype
Wednesday, August 20, 2014 by Richard Harris
If we’ve seen one, we’ve seen a hundred news releases come across our email: “XYZ company has announced that it has received VC funding.” We always toss these, because really, do you care that some company (not yours) has received funding?So when Famo.us announced their recent $25 million in additional funding, you know where that announcement went. However, there has b...
iOS 8 to Offer App Developers More than 4,000 New APIS, Plus a Host of Other Goodies
Monday, June 2, 2014 by Stuart Parkerson
Its official, iOS 8 is on its way and the beta version of the operating system is now available for developers to play with. Announced at WWDC, iOS 8, OS X Yosemite, and the new programming language, Swift (available in Xcode 6), were all big news. This article concentrates on iOS 8, which will be available this fall as a free software update for users.iOS 8 lets develo...
Unity Technologies Unveils 2D Gaming Tools
Thursday, August 29, 2013 by Richard Harris
Unity Technologies unveiled a new 2D tools and workflow for the Unity engine and editor at its’ Unity 2013 Conference. Now in beta the full release will be included with the Unity 4.3 update later this year.
The tool offers the introduction of a dedicated scene view, which includes specialized 2D scene manipulation tools. Scene view can be toggled between the tra...
Box2D physics engine for jquery that is HTML5 ready
Tuesday, December 11, 2012 by Richard Harris
File this under awesome - a physics engine that is box2D in nature and you can dump into your web apps using jquery.You can now add physics to any div layer or object within a stage!Here is the github link https://github.com/franzenzenhofer/box2d-jqueryI think I'm in love :)...


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From colour-changing cars, dual-screen laptops and satellite emergency texts to AI-ovens and a urine-scanning smart toilet upgrade, the annual CES tech show in Las Vegas had more concepts of the future on show than ever before.
The biggest consumer gadget show of the year was still quieter than pre-pandemic levels, with the global economic slowdown biting big tech along with everything else.
However, there were still thousands of products on display. Here are some of the highlights.
Colour-changing concept cars
Introduced by Arnold Schwarzenegger, BMW’s i Vision Dee caught the attention with its E-ink outer skin, which can change colour in an instant. Don’t expect that on a car you can buy any time soon but it also has a head-up display projected across the full width of the windscreen, which will be available from 2025.
Sony and Honda showed off a prototype electric car from their joint venture. The Afeela is covered inside and out with 45 sensors and has a full-width media screen inside, presumably for playing PlayStation games. A production version is expected by the end of 2025.
Closer to reality was Volkswagen’s ID7, which is an electric replacement for its Passat capable of travelling more than 400 miles before recharging, and is due to go on sale by late 2024. Ahead of its full unveiling next year, the ID7 was wrapped in an eye-catching electroluminescent camouflage paint that changed colour in time to music.
Asus glasses-free 3D display
Asus’s Vivobook Pro laptop with a 3D screen hopes to succeed where 3D TVs failed – as no glasses required. Using an eye-tracking camera system and a lenticular lens built into the 16in OLED screen, the laptop can accurately display a different image for each eye giving the impression of 3D, including objects that jump out of the screen. It will play 3D movies and games but is most impressive with creative software, for which Asus has developed plugins to take advantage of the screen.
The laptop is expected be available later this year and joins rival devices from Acer and Sony in trying to make glass-free 3D computer screens a reality.
Lenovo’s dual-screen laptop
The latest Yoga Book from Lenovo replaces the keyboard deck of a traditional laptop with a second screen. The full-sized Windows 11 notebook has two 13.3in OLED displays hinged in the middle so that it can be used on a desk like a traditional laptop, propped up like a tent, read like a book or folded to be like a tablet.
A detachable keyboard and folding stand turn the Yoga Book 9i into a dual-screen workstation at a desk, too. The machine will cost $2,099 (£1,771.66) in the US and is expected to launch in June.
Samsung’s oven knows when your food is burning
Samsung’s new Bespoke AI oven has a camera inside that can recognise food items, and using artificial intelligence it can not only automatically provide cooking recommendations for mode, temperature and time, but warns you if the food is about to burn.
It can spot 80 different ingredients and dishes and includes air sous vide, air-frying and steam-cooking modes alongside traditional oven functions. You can even use the camera to take photos of or livestream your culinary creations as they cook.
Pee-scanning toilet upgrade
Wearables are so last year. Made by the appropriately named health-tech firm Withings, the U-Scan is the first hands-free at-home urine lab, which promises to “provide an immediate snapshot of the body’s balance” using a 90mm round pod you hide under the toilet rim.
It tracks 100 biomarkers for monitoring menstrual cycles and hormone levels or hydration and nutrition using customisable cartridges, sending all the data to the Health Mate app. The device, due to launch by mid-2023, will cost £500, with cartridges lasting three months costing £30.
Satellites to solve out of phone signal emergency texts
Apple added the ability to use satellites to send SOS messages to the iPhone 14 late last year. Now the chip manufacturers Qualcomm and Mediatek are adding a similar ability to their top processors that could end up in high-priced Android phones from the second half of the year.
They promise two-way texting at some point in the future but how that will be built into phones and who pays for the service remains to be seen. Google and Samsung will have to be convinced to use Qualcomm’s rather than their own-brand chips in their top phones, too.


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Telstra is making a bigger play in the wearables space with the launch of new technology that connects wearable devices directly to the telco giant's mobile network, while extending the owner’s smartphone mobile number to the wearable.
Dubbed Telstra One Number, the embedded SIM card technology allows Australians to make and receive phone calls, alongside checking and sending text messages from compatible wearable devices without the requirement for a smartphone.
Once a wearable and a mobile device are successfully connected to the Telstra network, both devices will share a customer’s mobile plan inclusions such as calls, text and data.
Telstra product innovation executive director, John Chambers, said the next-gen eSIM technology for wearables paves the way for a new generation of wearables with evolved designs and voice and data integration.
“Up until now, customers have had to pair their smartphone with their wearable devices using Bluetooth to access calls, messages and notifications on their wearables,” he said.
"The ability to connect a wearable device directly to a mobile network and integrate a customer’s existing mobile number will make these devices even more powerful companions.
“Customers won’t have to worry about forgetting their phone, or taking it with them when they pop out to the shops or go for a jog – with Telstra One Number they’ll still be connected to [the] network via their wearable."
Chambers added that the technology could potentially be used for a wider range of smaller wearables.
“Because eSIMs are smaller than typical SIM cards, the technology will help designers bring connectivity and calling to a broader range of smaller wearable devices – from clothing and health monitors right through to fitness trackers and watches," he added.
Chambers said Telstra One Number will be made available to its customers on a “range of up-coming devices” but did not specify which devices are compatible.
Initially, it will be available to post-paid consumer customers with small business, enterprise and pre-paid customers to follow in the future.


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NEW YORK - MoviePass is back from bankruptcy, but with a new catch.
The subscription movie ticket service previously allowed its subscribers to purchase passes every month for a $10 fee.
The company declared bankruptcy in 2019 after years of problems. However, MoviePass is relaunching this summer – with a few changes.
According to its CEO, Stacy Spikes, they won't have unlimited movies anymore. Instead, customers can buy credits to redeem for movie showings.
People also will have the voluntary option to earn credits by watching ads – while having their eyeballs tracked through facial detection to make sure they are really watching.
The New York Post reports the credit system will respond to consumer demand, with hot movies at prime times requiring more credits.
Prices for the plans were not immediately announced.
"Through dynamic ticket pricing [and] centralized smart advertising, MoviePass is creating an end-to-end cinematic marketplace that will allow theaters to respond and innovate to movie-goer passions and demands, resulting in the future of cinema," the company's website explains.
What happened to MoviePass?
The MoviePass movie ticket subscription service was founded in 2011 and allowed subscribers to buy up to three movie tickets per month for a small fee.
MoviePass drew in millions of subscribers, initially luring them with a $10 monthly rate. But that proved unsustainable. Because MoviePass typically paid theaters the full cost of tickets — $15 or more in big cities — a single movie could put the service in the red. The company was forced to make changes. Those efforts, however, never stopped the losses.
Helios and Matheson Analytics, the parent company of MoviePass at the time, pulled the plug in 2019 after its efforts to seek financing were unsuccessful.
Spikes bought back the company late last year for a mere $14,000 after he was pushed out in 2018.
FOX News and The Associated Press contributed to this report.


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U.S. stocks climbed higher last week, finishing the volatile month of August on a high note. Behind the rally was optimism that further escalation in the trade spat between the U.S. and China will be avoided based on vague conciliatory comments from both sides. Economic data also helped after showing that consumer spending, which accounts for 70% of economic growth, rose by 4.7% in the second quarter, the strongest gain in four years. In another twist on the Brexit saga, odds of the U.K. leaving the European Union without an agreement increased last week after the prime minister announced he would be suspending Parliament before the October 31 Brexit deadline. Despite all the geopolitical uncertainties, it's the solid consumer fundamentals, still-rising corporate profits, and accommodative monetary policy that can help extend the economic expansion, in our view.
Stuck in Neutral -- What's Next?
Last week brought the end of August, a volatile month during which stocks swung widely on frequent trade news between China and the U.S. -- bouncing between progress on negotiations and the escalation of tariffs. The S&P 500 is up a solid 17% in 2019, but down 3.5% from the recent high and at about the same level as it was this time last year1. That said, the market hasn't sat still during that time. The sharp sell-off last December was followed by a strong rally to new highs through much of 2019, before losing some traction over the past month. Similarly, as impressive as this bull market has been over the last 10 years, the ride has not always been smooth, with several bumps along the way and extended periods of market volatility, namely in '11-'12 and in '15-'16. Stocks finished August on a high note, but recession fears are still lingering. To frame the current conditions, it's worth examining the opposing forces that dominate the current narrative and checking for engine warning lights that signal potential problems concerning the bull market's longevity.
Trade and global uncertainties hitting the brakes – One of the most prominent market concerns is the ongoing escalation of trade tensions between the U.S. and China. So far, most of the damage from tariffs has shown up in the form of indirect effects, like deterioration in business confidence and depressed business investment. World trade has not collapsed, as supply chains reshuffle to soften the blow from higher tariffs, but trade volumes globally are declining at the fastest pace since 2009 (-1.4% over the last year for the month of June)2.? Most of the weakness has been concentrated in the manufacturing sector, with the Purchasing Managers Index now showing contraction of the manufacturing economy in the eurozone, China, and, according to a preliminary August reading, the U.S. We don't think trade alone will trigger a recession because the U.S. economy is not overly export-reliant (exports represent about 13% of U.S. GDP), as it's far more dependent upon the services component of the economy versus goods production3. The ultimate timeframe and outcome of the trade situation remains quite uncertain at this stage, but our view is that de-escalation or an eventual deal will be achieved because of the mutual economic interest in finding a solution. This is likely to take time, however, and, in the meantime, escalating trade tensions could continue to pump the brakes on the stock market.
Consumption revving into high gear… - Consumer spending remains the economy's bright spot. A fresh read of consumer confidence last week showed that consumers’ assessment of current conditions is now at its highest level in almost 19 years. Despite heightened uncertainties, consumers have remained confident and are willing to spend, as evidenced by the strong July retail sales data, solid earnings from several bellwether retailers, and the upwardly revised consumption-growth figure for the second quarter to a very strong 4.7% annualized growth. This strength ties back to the job market, which is arguably firing on all cylinders, with unemployment near 50-year lows and rising wages. The proportion of the responders to the consumer confidence survey reporting jobs as "plentiful" reached the highest level since 2000 this month at 51.2% from a low of 3.1% at the height of the financial crisis4.
…but can it last? Assuming trade issues remain unresolved for an extended period, it is not hard to envision some deterioration or slowdown in the labor market. That said, in our view, household finances are in sufficiently good shape to keep consumer spending rising, buffering a slowdown in economic growth. Household savings as a percent of disposable income stands at 7.7%, higher than the 20-year average (6%) and 30-year average (6.5%). Households have greatly repaired their balance sheets and deleveraged since the financials crisis, with debt as a percent of disposable income declining to less than 100% from 133% at the end of 20073. At the same time rates have dropped near record lows, which reduces the cost of serving mortgages and auto loans. Therefore, consumers have the capacity to maintain spending via rising wages, elevated savings and/or new loans.
Buckle up & stay the course – Beyond the noise of the daily trade headlines, a look under the hood reveals some useful takeaways:
We acknowledge that there are credible threats to the bull market's longevity, but we think recession fears are overblown. Outside of the inverted yield curve, which we have discussed extensively, several other indicators, including the leading economic index, business surveys, weekly jobless claims, and credit spreads, that typically lead recessions are not yet glowing red across the dashboard, in our opinion. The consumer -- the engine of the U.S. economy -- is in good shape, corporate profits are still growing, stock valuations appear fair, monetary policy is accommodative, and interest rates are low. In our view, pullbacks and periods of volatility have proved to be buying opportunities in the past when fundamentals were reasonably solid as they appear today. In challenging and uncertain conditions we believe an appropriate longer-term perspective and a well diversified portfolio with the proper mix of stocks and bonds can help investors hug the road and weather the volatility.
Angelo Kourkafas, CFA
Investment Strategy Analyst
Sources: 1. Bloomberg, S&P 500 price return, 2. CPB Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis, 3. U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, 4. The Conference Board, 5. Bloomberg, S&P 500 total returns
|Dow Jones Industrial Average||26,403||3.0%||13.2%|
|S&P 500 Index||2,926||2.8%||16.7%|
|10-yr Treasury Yield||1.50%||-0.03%||-1.18%|
Source: Bloomberg, 08/30/19. *5-day performance ending Thursday. Bonds represented by the iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
The Week Ahead
The Weekly Market Update is published every Friday, after U.S. markets close.
The Dow Jones Indexes are proprietary to and distributed by Dow Jones & Company, Inc. and have been licensed for use.
All content of the Dow Jones Indexes ? 2017 is proprietary to Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
The Dow Jones, S&P 500 and Barclays Aggregate Bond Indexes are unmanaged and are not meant to depict an actual investment.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Diversification does not guarantee a profit or protect against loss.
Investors should understand the risks involved of owning investments, including interest rate risk, credit risk and market risk. The value of investments fluctuates and investors can lose some or all of their principal.
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This information is approved for use with the public.
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There’s more good news for the supposedly dying traditional media. In a week where the Mail Online posted its first ever profit and ‘The Sun’ entered the digital domain, the Financial Times sales actually grew largely due to a growth in its digital business.
The FT’s parent company Pearson revealed the numbers whilst reporting its half yearly results. The newspaper’s digital subscriptions grew by 31% to more than 300,000, overhauling print subscriptions (299,000) for the first time. Some of the print readers have clearly switched to digital as subscriptions were only up 2% overall but sales for the first half of 2012 were up 6% on 2011 to £216 million. By the end of the year digital will be responsible for 50% of all sales.
As well as a drop in print sales advertising revenues are down but this shortfall is more than made up for from the success of the FT’s digital model. The majority of readers still access FT.com free of charge but there are a range of paid options that allow users to access premium content.
For Irish readers standard option (4.8 million subscribers worldwide) costs €5.75 per week and the premium subscription which includes a special letter from the editor amoung other extras will set you back €7.99 per week. There is also a corporate deal that includes print issues priced at €183 for 6 months.
Much of the digital growth is due to mobile traffic as one in four digital readers now accesses FT.com from a smartphone or tablet. 2.7 million users access the site through the FT iPhone app launched last year and web apps are also now available on Chrome for Android and Windows.
The results for both the FT and Mail Online prove that newspapers can be successfully ported online in a profitable way and will be welcomed in newsrooms around the world as they scramble to replicate their success.


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When NEC Corporation of America‘s revenue began to decline a couple of years ago, the company’s executives knew it was time for a change. Struggling with low brand awareness and a need to differentiate themselves from their competitors, NEC started where most companies should – at the brand level. The result: their Orchestrating a Brighter World campaign.
But before they could bask in the glory of their new brand, NEC had to manage the chaos that naturally accompanies such an endeavor, which Joe Salisbury – the company’s vice president of corporate marketing, communications, analytics & big data – shared at a recent DFW AMA luncheon.
During his presentation, Joe shared best practices NEC uncovered as they underwent their recent transformation:
- Understand the customer. NEC created detailed customer personas to better understand who their customers are and what they care about. Then, they made concerted efforts to develop those relationships by meeting with them regularly in person for example. (When Joe asked how many members of the audience had met with a customer this week, only a few hands shot up).
- Convey customer value. A primary objective for NEC involved shifting their conversations with customers from technology talk to solutions. They began building these solutions based on each customer’s challenge.
- Make organizational changes: align sales/marketing/business units. NEC hired a new team to drive the tran
sformation and consolidated all of their marketing employees into one department. They also refined their sales process taking into consideration where they fell into the cycle.
- Go to market. Once their team was in place, NEC adjusted their strategy and action plan accordingly to better connect with customers and achieve a competitive advantage.
- Revisit branding. Through the rebrand, NEC uncovered a key differentiator, which Joe believes every organization needs. Theirs turned out to be biometrics – an innovative technology that can enhance safety and security, but can also carry a “big brother” connotation. From fingerprint scanning to facial recognition technology in video display walls (which recognizes a person and automatically adjusts the content based on their age for example), NEC is using their innovative differentiating technologies to improve the customer experience while gathering critical client data.
- Execute. Without proper execution, NEC’s transformation couldn’t be successful.
While focusing on other areas, many marketing professionals can lose contact with customers, prospects and the latest innovative technologies. Joe’s best practices not only remind us of the need to focus on our customers or clients but to also maintain a clear line of sight to a strategic approach that stays true to an organization’s brand.
How have you maintained customer engagement while undergoing transformation or change?


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Android gained huge popularity with smartphone manufacturers, so it should come as no surprise that the desk phones featuring Android operating platform would start appearing. Lots of companies have been rumored to be working on Android tablets this year in the wake of the iPad 3 launch. What we haven’t heard much of until now is an Android-based desktop handset. Some have recently begun working on Android-powered desk phones.
Why put Android on a desk ? For one: plenty of apps, including visual voicemail, calendars, SMS, and email. Android-based technology offers you the first phone that gets smarter over time instead of obsolete. The other reason is that Google has broad plans for Android. In May of 2011 as it was shipping its new 3.1 version of Android at the company’s annual developer’s conference, Google announced that the next release of its operating system will offer features that would make it more suitable for use on a a big-screen, multi-touch desktop computer. And this, my friends, could have far reaching consequences for Apple and even Microsoft.


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Consumer prices surged by 5.5% in the 12 months to January, up from 5.4% in December, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed.
What’s more, inflation is now outpacing wage growth as food, energy and fuel costs rise. Inflation is expected to rise above 7% this year, the Bank of England said.
For BBPA chief executive Emma McClarkin, the new ONS figures highlighted further steep financial challenges the pub and brewing sector was facing following a devastating winter.
Rising inflation coincides with the sector experiencing record levels of debt and facing increased costs across the board from energy through to raw materials, as well as supply chain difficulties.
Support for the sector
McClarkin said: “We are urging the Government to heed the calls of our Long Live the Local campaign that seeks to support the sector for the long term by extending the current lower level of VAT, lowering beer duty, and introduce business rates reform that reduces the disproportionate burden paid by pubs to help them recover and fire on the UK economy.”
Overall, food and non-alcoholic drinks prices rose 4.3% versus January 2021. According to the ONS, household bills contributed to much of the annual inflation rise, as suppliers continued to face surging wholesale gas costs. Electricity was up 19% in the year to January, and gas up by 28%.
The financial pressures on the sector are expected to worsen with the rise of VAT to 20% come April. More than 250 hospitality business leaders, including pioneering voices in the pub sector, have signed a letter urging the Chancellor to keep VAT at 12.5% beyond March 2022.
The letter is spearheaded by UKHospitality, whose chief executive Kate Nicholls said: “This industry has borne the full brunt of the economic restrictions due to Covid.
“Companies have no cash in the bank and are being squeezed from all directions. They must pass costs or go bust. The only question is by how much prices rise.”
According to Nicholls, if the Government retained the VAT rate it would give companies “room to breathe” after a challenging two years where hospitality was hit first, hardest and longest.


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Gordon Ramsay has plans to add 50 new branches to his chain brands across the UK over the next five years. A financial report, seen by The Caterer, confirmed the intentions.
Moves by the celebrity chef include expanding his Bread Street Kitchen concept (posh pub grub), and to also open new Street Burger sites in and outside of London.
The group’s turnover grew to £54.7m to the year ending August 2019, which is an increase of 2.1 per cent. It posted a pre-tax profit of £15.2m, up from just £500,000 in 2018.
But the group has not escaped the perils of Covid-19. Statements regarding this year’s trading note the outbreak of the virus had a “significant impact of the business” and the full impact of the pandemic on the company is not yet known.
Ramsay’s company now has 14 London restaurants, with 10 more under licence agreements. His haute cuisine flagships include the three-Michelin-starred Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, the Michelin-starred Petrus, the Savoy Grill, and Lucky Cat. His less flamboyant, luxuriant (and more scalable and ultimately, we would guess, profitable) ventures include his Plane Food concept at Heathrow and his burger brand.
In March, the Gordon Ramsay Restaurant Group terminated the contracts of hundreds of staff members working across its London restaurants due to the outbreak of coronavirus. Afterwards, the group is understood to have since made use of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to furlough staff.


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have been slow in gaining momentum recently. Analysts have pointed to cyclical factors such as the slow recovery in emerging markets and weather-related shortfall in demand in the U.S. for the slack in exports. Moreover, the cost of energy
connectivity chip segment was up 16% sequentially, thanks to strength in chips used in TV set-top boxes sold in emerging markets . Within this segment, connectivity chip sales were up 20% sequentially, which we attribute to Broadcom’s design
LONDON, Oct 21 (Reuters) - Emerging market stocks held their ground on Tuesday, taking their lead from firmer trading in Europe and on Wall Street and shrugging off China's weakest economic growth...
* CEO predicts revenue will rise next year after recent slide
KUWAIT, Oct 21 (Reuters) - Revenue at Kuwait-listed logistics company Agility is expected to resume growing next year as emerging markets business expands and the company develops new sectors, chief...
appear to be very strong, especially the growth in emerging markets . So, on the top line, Apple still appears to be ..... the Mac growth is really impressive, especially in emerging markets . And it's very important about [TICKER:AAPL
Oct 20 (Reuters) - Hasbro Inc, the second-largest U.S. toymaker, reported a strong quarterly profit, driven by robust sales of Marvel and Transformers action figures in emerging markets such as Latin America and the Asia Pacific region.
DUBLIN, Oct 20 (Reuters) - International banking activity expanded for a second straight quarter between April and June with banks lending more to emerging markets , particularly China, and to investment funds in offshore centres such as the Cayman Islands, data showed on Monday.
being able to Be On His Own.. DBLEX DoubleLine Emerging Markets Fixed Inc I Fund DBLEX Quote Price News 30-Day ..... YR = 7.59% vs Former Employer > TGEIX TGEIX TCW Emerging Markets Income I Fund TGEIX Quote Price News 30-Day SEC
Hasbro (NASDAQ: HAS ) reports sales in emerging markets rose 29% and international sales were 11% higher during Q3 . Sales growth by category: Boys +22%, Games +2%, Girls +5%, Preschool -7%. Operating profit +490 bps to 19.4%. Post your comment!


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India has jumped 14 places to rank 63rd in the World Bank's ease of doing business ranking index and the country aims to be within 50.
24 Oct 2019 4:07 PM
Industry bodies exuded confidence that India will climb the rankings further to be among the top 50 nations.
24 Oct 2019 3:18 PM
GDP expansion will pick up to 6.2 per cent in the next financial year (2020-21) and to 6.7 per cent in the year after.
24 Oct 2019 2:20 PM
A modest overshoot in recent inflation outruns is outweighed by downside risks to RBI's growth estimates.
24 Oct 2019 1:10 PM
Growth can come back. Because of a lot of (reforms), economy is in transition, said SBI chief Rajnish Kumar.
24 Oct 2019 12:36 PM
Goyal also invited all companies to come forth with new and innovative technologies for the India Railways.
24 Oct 2019 8:53 AM


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Qualcomm played all its cards to fend off acquisition from Broadcom
In the earlier parts of the series, we saw that Qualcomm (QCOM) has been looking to fend off Broadcom’s (AVGO) hostile takeover since it first received the offer in November 2017. Qualcomm played all its cards to avoid a takeover:
- The Qualcomm board unanimously rejected the offer.
- It tried to encourage shareholders to vote against Broadcom-nominated directors.
- It criticized Broadcom’s management strategy and how it would impact its efforts in 5G technology.
- It increased its offer price for NXP Semiconductors (NXPI) from $110.00 to $127.50.
- On January 29, 2018, Qualcomm filed a request to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (or CFIUS) to review the takeover deal without informing Broadcom about it.
When these measures failed and the shareholder meeting date neared, Qualcomm tried to negotiate a better offer price from Broadcom at the end of February 2018.
Tech industry opposed the Broadcom–Qualcomm deal
In addition to Qualcomm, tech giants Microsoft and Google also opposed the Broadcom–Qualcomm deal, expressing concern that it would benefit Apple (AAPL), reported CNBC. The tech giants also feared that Broadcom might reduce its research and development investment in an attempt to cut costs and improve operational efficiency.
Qualcomm’s rival Intel (INTC) also opposed the Broadcom–Qualcomm deal, as the combined company would create a bigger rival and pose a competitive threat. Intel has been gaining modem business from the Apple-Qualcomm dispute over licensing.
The dispute started when Apple chose Intel as its second modem supplier, as Qualcomm was no longer the iPhone maker’s exclusive modem supplier. If Broadcom acquired Qualcomm, the former could possibly settle the dispute with Apple. As a result, Intel would lose modem business from Apple.
Intel intervenes in the Broadcom–Qualcomm deal
According to a Wall Street Journal report, Intel has been closely monitoring the Broadcom–Qualcomm saga and hoping for the deal to fail due to these competitive concerns. Intel didn’t turn to the federal government but instead worked on a countermove with its advisers.
Sources stated that Intel decided to intervene and offer to acquire Broadcom if the Broadcom–Qualcomm deal became apparent. Intel did just that on March 9, 2018, when CFIUS stepped in. However, it appeared that Broadcom had convinced CFIUS that the deal posed no national security threat.
The unnamed sources told the Wall Street Journal that Intel would not have gone through with the acquisition offer and that it might have withdrawn given the complexity and size of the combined Broadcom–Qualcomm–NXP Semiconductors. Even without the acquisition, Broadcom carries an enterprise value in excess of $110.0 billion. The combined company would be worth much more, and Intel wouldn’t be able to accumulate such funding with its already leveraged balance sheet and rising interest rates.
The technology industry opposed the Qualcomm–Broadcom deal for reasons other than the combined company becoming a dominant market player. We’ll look at these reasons next.


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Zeebox to introduce voting payments feature
Zeebox, the social TV app, is to enable its users to purchase and cast real-time votes in TV shows, in a bid to provide additional revenue streams for broadcasters.
Zeebox: to enable users to buy and cast real-time votes on reality TV shows
It has struck a partnership with Mobile Interactive Group (MIG) to integrate its social payments voting platform Engage into the Zeebox app, which currently enables TV viewers to interact and chat via Facebook and Twitter, access TV programme information, and buy what they see on screen.
Users will be able to make payments using the technology to cast votes on reality TV shows. No deals have yet been struck with any broadcasters to use the voting system .
The technology behind the voting platform is similar to that used by MIG to create a Facebook voting app, which was used last year by Channel 5's 'Big Brother'.
Zeebox launched in the UK last year. In January this year, Sky signed a deal reportedly worth $15m (£9.8m) that included the pay-TV company taking a 10% stake in Zeebox, taking on ad sales via Sky Media, and giving Sky the rights to incorporate Zeebox's IP into its own apps.
Follow Sarah Shearman on Twitter @Shearmans
This article was first published on mediaweek.co.uk
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After a dismal begin, curiosity in Bakkt’s physically-settled Bitcoin futures is lastly enhancing. The Intercontinental Change-backed enterprise has simply recorded three consecutive days above $10 million in buying and selling.
The figures nonetheless lag far behind the 24-hour Bitcoin buying and selling quantity reported at different giant buying and selling venues. In comparison with the volumes reported at Bakkt’s debut in September, nonetheless, yesterday’s $12.7 million buying and selling session appears large.
Curiosity in Bakkt Picks Up, $42.5 Million in Bitcoin Futures Contracts Commerce in Final Three Days
In response to the Bakkt monitoring Twitter account Bakkt Quantity Bot (@BakktBot), the regulated, physically-settled futures buying and selling platform loved its third consecutive bumper day of buying and selling yesterday. Down round 10 p.c from its earlier session, the change nonetheless noticed $12.7 million price of its contracts commerce. This represents a complete of 1,456 BTC.
Bakkt set a brand new all-time excessive simply three buying and selling days in the past. On Friday November eight $15.6 million dollars price of Bitcoin futures traded. This represented a major improve on the earlier all-time excessive of $10.three million, recorded on October 25. Coincidentally, or not, the value of Bitcoin skilled an enormous surge on October 24 following the latest endorsement of blockchain expertise by the Chinese language authorities.
ICYMI: Tuesday’s Bakkt Bitcoin Month-to-month Futures:
📉 Traded contracts: 1456 ($12,725,440)
📅 Day earlier than: 1622 (-10%)
🚀 All time excessive: 1756 (11/eight/2019)
*bleep blop* tip sats for server prices https://t.co/TF6sNUwWpO 🤖 pic.twitter.com/bk5aBVLPLc
— Bakkt Quantity Bot (@BakktBot) November 13, 2019
Bakkt’s quantity continues to be a great distance behind that reported on the planet’s main cryptocurrency exchanges. BitcoinTradeVolume.com studies Binance, for instance, as buying and selling over $381 million. In the meantime, the cash-settled Bitcoin futures contracts supplied by the CME Group reportedly traded $133 million during the last 24-hours. Nevertheless, provided that Bakkt noticed buying and selling days as little as $200,000 shortly after its launch, the present figures signify an enormous progress in curiosity in Bakkt’s futures contracts.
In different Bakkt information, the change has simply opened its custody resolution, Bakkt Warehouse, as much as all institutional buyers. As NewsBTC reported earlier this week, the service was beforehand solely out there to Bakkt purchasers desirous to commerce its Bitcoin futures contracts. Nevertheless, perceiving a necessity for regulated, institutional-grade custody, Bakkt prolonged the storage system to different purchasers around the globe.
Along with the extending of Bakkt Warehouse entry, the ICE-backed enterprise is getting ready to launch choices on its futures contracts subsequent month. The corporate says that such merchandise will higher allow merchants to handle threat and the choice to launch them comes as a response to consumer demand. In the meantime, the CME Group is working in direction of the launch of its personal choices merchandise on its Bitcoin futures contracts. Anticipated in January subsequent 12 months, the product continues to be pending regulatory approval in line with a launch revealed yesterday.
Associated Studying: Libra Crypto Crumbles as Fb Launches Various Funds Platform
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Japanese auto giant Toyota is investing hundreds of millions of dollars in Uber.
One of the world’s leading car manufacturers, Toyota, is teaming up with Uber to jointly work on the development of driverless cars. The deal involves an investment of $500m from Toyota.
This means that self-driving technology from Uber will be integrated with Toyota’s Guardian safety technology. The technologies will be built into purpose-built Toyota vehicles and the fleet will base itself on its Sienna Minivan model.
Pilot trials are due to begin in 2021. Once complete, the fleet will be operated by an as yet unknown third party.
Shigeki Tomoyama, executive vice-president of Toyota Motor Corporation, said: “This agreement and investment marks an important milestone in our transformation to a mobility company as we help provide a path for safe and secure expansion of mobility services like ride-sharing.”
The investment from the Japanese auto giant values Uber at $72bn.
Both Toyota and Uber are viewed as lagging behind in terms of self-driving car developments, so a deal benefits both companies, bringing experience and resources together.
Toyota has been less aggressive in self-driving development in comparison to some of its rivals, instead focusing on partially autonomous systems, such as Guardian. The companies are both aiming to solve the problem of mass production of self-driving cars for shared fleets, including ride-sharing services.
Uber’s self-driving business has been quiet in recent months, following the death of an Arizona pedestrian who was hit by one of its vehicles earlier this year.
Since the fatality, the company has removed its self-driving fleet from the road, closed operations in Arizona and let hundreds of test drivers go.
Uber has already teamed up with Daimler, which hopes to own and run its own self-driving fleet on Uber’s network. The investment is an element of this new strategy focusing on partnerships with other auto companies.
It was only Monday (27 August) that we reported Uber would be pivoting its focus to electric scooter- and bicycle-sharing rather than car transport in future.
CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said at the time: “Short-term financially, maybe it’s not a win for us but strategically long-term, we think that is exactly where we want to head.”
Updated, 10.59am, 28 August 2018: This article was updated to clarify that we reported Uber was pivoting away from car transport yesterday, which was 27 August, not 27 July. Silicon Republic apologises for this error and our apparent reluctance to acknowledge that summer is almost over.


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2015 Mustang ready for world domination
DETROIT — America's pony car is ready to run with the thoroughbreds.
The Ford Mustang is still affordable enough to be a college grad's first new car — prices start at $23,600 — but the all-new 2015 Mustang has the technology to compete with $50,000-plus luxury sport coupes from Audi, BMW and Lexus. Next to the Mustang, the Ford's traditional competitors — the Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger — suddenly feel out of date.
Fifty years after the original 1965 Mustang created a uniquely American sporty car — and a class of competitors known as pony cars — the 2015 Mustang updates the formula for the 21st Century. It delivers unprecedented levels of safety, efficiency and comfort, while remaining a great value.
This is the first time Ford has engineered its pony car to be sold around the world. The car is well-known and has enthusiast clubs across the globe. Now it can legally be sold in international markets, further strengthening the image of the Ford brand.
"The 2015 is the most important Mustang in many years. It's a major transition," said Matt Anderson, transportation curator at the Henry Ford museum in Dearborn.
It's also well on the way to being a hit.
"The 2015 Mustang is an absolute home run," said auto writer and historian Ken Gross. "Ford's not resting on their laurels."
Just reaching dealerships now, the 2015 Mustang coupe and convertible combine affordability with style and advanced features.
"It's the reinvention of the Mustang," said analyst Joe Phillippi of AutoTrends consulting in Andover, N.J. "It can hold its own against much more expensive competitors. It's a real contender."
Ford developed the new Mustang to meet high fuel-economy standards and to sell around the world. It's the first Mustang engineered specifically with an eye to sales outside the U.S., aiming to cash in on the car's mystique and make the most of its sophisticated new engineering. It will be sold in more than 140 countries.
"This Mustang transcends the pony car stereotype" as a fast, good-looking but raw and unrefined car, Edmunds.com senior analyst Bill Visnic said. "Ford polished all the rough edges off. This car delivers what shoppers around the world want.
"You can compare it to sport coupes from BMW, Infiniti — any of the luxury brands. That was never true before."
The 2015 Mustang's secrets include a new 2.3L four-cylinder EcoBoost engine that produces 310 horse power and rated 32 miles per gallon on the highway in EPA tests — more power and better fuel economy than the competitors' six-cylinder engines. The legendary Mustang GT retains its classic 5.0L V8 power, checking in at 435 h.p. and 25 m.p.g. on the highway.
Other advanced features include radar-based cruise control that brakes and accelerates automatically to keep pace in traffic. The ride is more comfortable, thanks to a new suspension that also improved handling to world-class levels.
Ford expects the new features and Mustang's iconic status to create demand from the USA to Europe and China.
"The Mustang has a big cult following around the world," Anderson said. "It's the quintessentially American car."
The original 1965 Mustang, which went on sale April 17, 1964, was the first car designed for the baby boom, Anderson said.
It succeeded beyond Ford's wildest expectations. Sales skyrocketed. Lee Iacocca, who led the Ford Division at the time and spearheaded the Mustang's introduction, ended up on the covers of Time and Newsweek. Ford coined the phrase "417 by 4/17," for its goal of selling 417,000 cars in the Mustang's first year. They beat the target, delivering 418,812 by 4/17/1965.
"The Mustang brought the fun back to driving," Gross said. "It was a performance car for the masses.
"You have to applaud Ford. It's an idea that never died, and they've kept it contemporary and vital."
Mustang prices range from $23,600 for a base V6 coupe to $41,600 for a V8 GT convertible or $46,170 for a limited-edition 50th anniversary model.
Ford has plenty more specialty models planned, including a 500+ h.p. Shelby GT 350 next year to pay homage to racing legend Carroll Shelby, who developed the first high-performance Mustang.


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In what seems like only hours since the unveiling, Google’s new social tool, Google+ has been blocked. That’s exactly right! And yes, you would be accurate in stating that it’s invitation only and in beta. So where exactly has Google+ been blocked? China! According to confirmations from both Just Ping and the Greatfirewallofchina.org, the plus.google.com website is inaccessible in China.
If you’re getting ready to cry foul here, this is exactly what the Chinese powers that be have done with Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Foursquare. I guess it’s just business as usual for these guys, though one could speculate on why it came so fast with Google not officially launching it yet. Either way, it’s blocked! So what are your thoughts on this? Hit up the comments and let us know!


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Mattel’s Avatar toys to feature new technology
SAN DIEGO — Mattel is previweing the Avatar line of action figures at Comic-Con International. The figures are based on the upcoming film by James Cameron.
The figures from “Avatar” incorporate augmented reality technology, marking the first time this technology will ever appear in a retail toy product, according to a Mattel release.
Here’s how it works, according to information from Mattel:
Each action figure, vehicle and creature in the product line will come with a 3-D web tag, called an i-TAG, which consumers can “scan” using a home computer’s webcam. Scanning the i-TAG will reveal special content onscreen unique to the corresponding product. Exact content varies for each item, but could include biographical information, additional images and animated models of the figures. When the i-TAG for deluxe figures, vehicles or creatures are placed under a webcam, animated 3-D models will “come alive” through engaging, evading or defending moves. Place two i-TAGs from the “Battle Pack” together and the 3-D images will interact with each other.
“The development of our ‘Avatar’ toy line with the integration of the augmented reality technology marks an entirely new level of innovation in toys,” said Doug Wadleigh, Vice President for Boys Action Play Marketing, Mattel, Inc., in a press release. “Boys will be able to play with the ‘Avatar’ figures and vehicles in ways that previously could only be imagined.”
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October 22, 2018, 6:23 PM EDT
Synchrony Harnesses AI to Transform Customer Experience
Synchrony uses machine learning models to put credit in more customers’ hands, to reshape customer service with a virtual assistant, and to improve efficiency with robotics automation
New technologies and digital transformation will improve customer experience for more than 74 million active accounts
Synchrony has more than 74 million active accounts with millions of credit card transactions processed daily. The company is scaling AI-powered tools to help customers get easier access to credit, provide personalized responses to cardholders’ queries in real-time, and equip representatives and credit experts with tools to deliver higher value services.
“At Synchrony, AI is a competitive advantage for our business and our partners. Emerging technologies continue to shape how we work and how we serve our partners and customers every day,” said Carol Juel, EVP and Chief Information Officer at Synchrony. “Synchrony is committed to being part of the AI transformation and providing seamless, digital experiences.”
AI-based platform improves data-driven credit decisions, combats fraud
Customers are seeking faster and more seamless ways to gain access to credit and further their purchasing power. From underwriting to fraud, Synchrony has deployed AI-powered tools throughout the credit cycle. To improve the credit underwriting process, Synchrony has developed a platform for real-time machine learning models that is designed to facilitate credit-driven decisions in seconds while protecting against fraud.
With machine learning and increasing data availability, technologists at Synchrony will gain a better understanding of the consumer and a more complete picture of the risk that Synchrony is seeking to take. Synchrony’s robust, private cloud-based infrastructure means consumers receive a more seamless front-end experience, accessing credit decisions quickly, safely, and responsibly.
Introducing Sydney: Synchrony’s intelligent virtual assistant
Synchrony launched an AI-enabled intelligent virtual assistant named Sydney to help answer cardholders’ text-based questions and soon respond via voice. Trained in hundreds of topics from years of Synchrony call center data, Sydney can answer inquiries about opening a new account, payment options, log-in issues, and rewards programs. More than 20 retailers have deployed Sydney, Synchrony’s intelligent virtual assistant tool for cardholders.
Synchrony personalizes Sydney’s tone and language to match those of its partners. With millions of digital chat interactions over the past year, Sydney has driven productivity by reducing live chat volume by more than 50 percent while enabling live agents to help with higher value solutions. In addition to answering cardholders’ questions, Synchrony’s service representatives will also begin adopting the AI-powered assistant to better serve cardholders’ needs and improve Sydney’s intelligence over time.
Smarter automation solutions
As part of its ongoing digital transformation, Synchrony is in the early stages of deploying bots to automate time-consuming routine tasks. These smarter automation solutions, also known as robotic process automation, help realize substantial performance gains such as accelerating business processes by reducing hour-long tasks down to minutes.
For example, the company’s treasury department recently used the AI-powered tool for their internal forecasting and operations, resulting in a 50 percent reduction in process cycle time. Synchrony will soon apply more tools companywide that are projected to save tens of thousands of hours. Combined with machine learning, these enterprise tools drive smarter, faster decisions which in turn creates higher customer, partner and employee satisfaction.
“Robotic process automation is just one piece of the puzzle for AI. The digitization of repetitive tasks enables our employees to focus on difficult and fulfilling cognitive work,” said Greg Simpson, Chief Technology Officer and Artificial Intelligence leader at Synchrony. “Smarter automation is modernizing today’s applications and augmenting the workforce, driving smarter solutions for all.”
Investing in skills for the AI economy
Synchrony is investing in teams of experienced analysts, data scientists, developers, and software engineers. In tandem with credit and risk experts, these teams drive deeper insights, enhance engagement and improve experiences for Synchrony’s partners and customers. Synchrony’s innovation stations bring together talent across the business to quickly develop and test technologies and products.
In addition, Synchrony recently opened the Emerging Technology Center at the University of Illinois to advance technology capabilities and equip students with real-world skills in artificial intelligence, data science, design thinking and other emerging technologies. This public-private partnership brings together the talent of Synchrony and U. of Illinois students, accelerating the development of AI solutions while building a strong technology pipeline. More than two dozen students have already secured internships at the center.
For more information on Synchrony at Money20/20, visit www.synchrony.com/m2020
Synchrony (NYSE:SYF), is a premier consumer financial services company delivering customized financing programs across key industries including retail, health, auto, travel and home, along with award-winning consumer banking products. With more than $130 billion in sales financed and 74.5 million active accounts, Synchrony brings deep industry expertise, actionable data insights, innovative solutions and differentiated digital experiences to improve the success of every business we serve and the quality of each life we touch. More information can be found at www.synchrony.com and through Twitter: @Synchrony.
Angie Hu, 203-585-2681
Greg Simpson, Chief Technology Officer and Artificial Intelligence leader at Synchrony, a premier consumer financial services company, chats with Synchrony’s intelligent virtual assistant – Sydney. Trained in hundreds of topics from years of Synchrony call center data, Sydney helps answer cardholders’ text-based questions and soon responds via voice.
Synchrony is using machine learning models and artificial intelligence technology to help customers get easier access to credit, provide personalized, real-time responses to customer questions, and to equip representatives and credit experts with tools to deliver higher-value services.


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The Cummins engine plant in Columbus, IN, is in pilot production of the 5.0L turbodiesel V-8 soon to be delivered to Nissan for the all-new Titan XD fullsize pickup truck. Sales are set to begin by year's end.
Highlights from the Ward’s 10 Best Interiors Ceremony held during the WardsAuto Interiors Conference on May 13, 2015 in Detroit, MI. WardsAuto World Editor-in-Chief Drew Winter announces the winners and calls auto maker representatives to the stage to accept their honors....More
Nissan’s VQ V-6, lauded since it came to the U.S. in 1994, has been heavily revised for the all-new Maxima sedan arriving now in showrooms. The automaker calls the VQ all-new as well, but many of the key specs carry over....More
Nissan rolled out its all-new '16 Titan fullsize pickup at Detroit's Cobo Center as part of this week's WardsAuto Interiors Conference. First to market later this year will be the Titan XD with 5.0L Cummins diesel V-8, followed by gasoline offerings.
Without 2-step variable valve lift, the ’15 version of the Pentastar always operated in high-lift mode, consuming more fuel. FCA says the new system results in less overall pumping work, singlehandedly accounting for a fuel-economy gain of up to 2.7%....More
Drivers may hear the self-cleaning taking place during a hot idle, and the process could last from 10 seconds to as long as 10 minutes, depending on driving patterns and the amount of build-up on the injectors....More
The combination of total LV inventory 3% above year-ago, and stocks of the strongest growing segment group increasing month-to-month, points to a fifth straight 17 million-plus SAAR in September....More


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Businesses can now rule their Facebook presence with just a single app after the social network developed a “business suite” that links to Facebook, Instagram and, eventually, WhatsApp.
On Thursday, Facebook Business Suite launched for 180 million businesses that run Facebook Pages and Instagram accounts. Facebook made the product update as part of its small business push, making the new app first open to the smaller and medium-size businesses before rolling it out widely.
“Our goal with this is to help simplify and unify,” says Rich Rao, Facebook’s VP of small business. “The vision for this is to have this be the unifying interface.”
Businesses can use the app to create posts that they can simultaneously push out to Facebook and Instagram. The app includes tools for scheduling posts; it covers paid ads and unpaid posts; provides analytics to compare what’s working and what’s not; and it acts as a hub that catches all comments and messages from Facebook and Instagram.
Eventually, the app will incorporate the e-commerce and shopping tools that Facebook developed recently. It will also expand to encompass brands’ WhatsApp activities.


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Google has used the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco to announce its biggest move into gaming with the launch of Google Stadia, prompting a mixed reaction of excitement, scepticism and sarcasm from gamers.
Google Stadia will be a cloud-based service allowing games to be played on PC and mobile. Google's Phil Harrison said: "With Stadia, this waiting game will be a thing of the past."
Google Stadia will, apparently, allow gamers to play in 4k at 60fps, with a connection speed as low as 25mbs, though this claim in particular raised the biggest questions among the gaming community.
Almost-instant play with Google controller
The Google controller features a 'play now' button which is designed to launch gameplay within five seconds with, apparently, "no download, install, updates or patches" required.
Harrison said existing "USB controllers and mouse and keyboard" will function with Stadia games.
Gamers get excited (and sarcastic)
Provoking excitement and sarcasm from gamers is like shooting noobs in a battle royale and this move, by of one of the world's biggest tech companies, is no different. Reaction has been one of overwhelming excitement, with plenty of comedy thrown in for good measure.


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The funding will help Causal increase headcount and enhance its sales capabilities. Here are the top-line bullets you need to know.
Causal, a spreadsheet software provider, has raised $20M in a Series A. The round drew participation from Accel and Coatue Management, among others.
HOW’S THE COMPANY PERFORMING?
- Delaware-based Causal enables organizations to build financial models, connect those models to accounting and CRM data, and share interactive dashboards.
- The platform currently caters to over 100 customers, including Duffel, Go Henry, Unmind, Branch, and Philips.
- The company also claims to have increased its customer base by 30% month-over-month in 2021.
- Causal is currently supported by a team of 15 people.
WHY DOES THE MARKET MATTER?
- The global fintech market is expected to reach a value of $324B by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 25.18%, according to Market Data Forecast.
- The fintech market has seen a funding boom in recent years. In 2021, fintech startups raised $132B, accounting for 21% of all venture dollars.
- The global fintech adoption rate stands at 25%, signaling a growth opportunity for providers and first movers.
- Organizations have increasingly adopted financial modeling solutions amid pandemic-fueled disruption.
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If there’s any indication that the mobile handset markets in Southeast Asia is ripe for the taking, it’s the sudden interest from a number of China-based handset vendors that started to introduce their mobile products into the region’s markets. The recent introduction of Xiaomi‘s quadcore Redmi into Singapore saw the stock allotment sell out within minutes (even though the China company declined the reveal the exact number sold within that timeframe).
Similarly, China’s OPPO is sensing what could be a sea change in the perception towards China-made mobile handsets in markets normally dominated by the likes of Apple and Samsung. Last week the Guangdong-based electronics company launched its Oppo N1 handset in the Singapore market, a few months after it committed to this market by officially opening up an office in the country.
Oppo’s previous exposure to the Singapore market was limited to its high-end Blue-ray player models unofficially brought in by distributors. But curiously Oppo only entered the Singapore mobile market quite some time after it did in many other Asian markets. It’s previously opened up offices in Thailand (December 2009), Vietnam (December 2012) and Indonesia (January 2013), before it did so in Singapore, a country with a mobile penetration rate of over 150%, and the world’s 4th largest in terms of smartphone penetration. Only in Malaysia (February 2014) and in the Philippines (March 2014) did it open an office after Singapore.
The Oppo N1, first introduced to other markets in December last year, hit Singapore shelves last month with its flexible swivel camera that has a mechanical rotation of up to 206°, offering interesting photo-taking angles with its 13-megapixel camera. The phone uses OPPO’s Color-OS, an user interface layer built on Google Android, with some innovative swipe gestures for easy operation of its features despite its large size. For example, one can simply swipe up or down along one side of the screen to increase volume, or use its O-Touch panel – a portion on the back of the phone – to scroll, tap or snap photos without fingers blocking the screen. An optional accessory, the O-click is a tiny button sized device that allows a user to not only use it as a remote (for taking photos, over example) but also locate the phone in case it goes missing. Aside from the N1, OPPO is also bringing in the lower-specced R1 and Find 5 Mini, and according to a spokesperson will be introducing another flagship phone in the coming quarter.
The OPPO N1, R1 and Find 5 Mini’s retail price of S$769, S$519, and S$369 respectively seems pricey when matched with Xiaomi’s S$169 launch price for the Redmi, but it should still be competitive against incumbent brands with Android-based handsets such as Samsung and HTC.


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An unannounced title currently in the works at Visceral Games is the studio's "fastest greenlit" and "most desirable" project, according to comments made by an EA director.
The mystery title is listed on the online CV of EA's senior director of business development Hans ten Cate, which states that he "developed a concept with small team of 5 for AAA game that became the fastest greenlit and most desired project at Visceral Games" while working as a senior producer at the studio between November 2008 and July 2011.
According to ten Cate's profile, the title is due for release on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC in 2014.
A second unannounced title, a "new action game" targeted at PC, is also listed on ten Cate's profile.
Visceral Games has long been rumoured to have numerous unannounced titles in the works, including an "online action shooter".
Its most recent title, Dead Space 3, released earlier this month.